Page 21 of Reckless Rebel

Rick huffs behind me in annoyance, before pushing past Jace and I and then extending his hand out to me. “Come on, Riley, let’s go.” His words are tight and rushed as he glares at me. Jace just called me a whore right in front of him, and he said nothing. Surely he should stand up for me? Not that I need him to, but still, that seems like boyfriend behaviour.

I only hesitate for a few seconds, glancing at Jace, who is still staring at me, and Rick huffs, “Whatever!” He storms away without looking back, leaving me alone with Jace.

“You judge me and here you are getting hot and heavy in the bathroom of a party.” He shakes his head, that smug smile still in place as he talks, it pisses me off.

“Not like I was having an orgy!” I clap back, and he takes a predatory step forward, closing me into the bathroom entrance.

“If that’s what you're into, Red, all you gotta do is ask.” He makes a show of checking me out. I’m only wearing fitted black jeans with a lace top, nothing to see really. But the slickness between my folds makes me blush under his scrutiny, as I stare at his chest, refusing to meet his eyes.

“Mmm, very responsive,” he purrs, and I feel my clit throb at the gravel in his voice. His hand comes out curling around my neck, and he uses his thumb to tip my chin back, before it ghosts over my lips. I shiver under his touch, a fire starting beneath my skin at his contact. His scent wraps around me, until all I can see and feel is him. My stare pulls up and that fire is immediately doused in cold water when I meet his gaze again. He's completely out of it.

I pull back, smacking his hand away. “What the hell have you taken?” I ask, forcing air back into my lungs after his close presence stole it.

His sexy swagger disappears as he rolls his eyes. “What business is it of yours?” He asks in a bored tone, pulling out his phone as it dings, reading whatever is on there with an equally bored expression.

I snatch the phone from his hand. “It’s my business, because you’re Sofia’s brother.”

He laughs, “Oh, finally admitting that fact are we now? What’s the matter? Did you just need a good fuck to clear your head?”

His words slap into me a second time and I shake my head. “I was right about you, you’re just…” I start, but cut myself off. It’s not even worth the breath I would waste telling him, he probably wouldn’t even remember it if I did. “Forget it, I’m out of here.” I storm away, pushing past anyone in my way until I reach outside.

Just as I get to the porch, a hand drags me back, and I turn to find Jace’s drug-fueled stare burning into me once more.

“Don’t run away from me,” he grunts. “You’ve clearly got something to say, so say it.”

“Fine!” I snap, “You are pathetic and you only care about yourself. You’re a whore, and on your way to being an addict. Nothing you do or say will change my opinion of you. You think you are worthy to be Sofia’s brother when you are nothing but a waste of space.” I pour as much venom into my tone as I can muster, and for the first time ever I feel free. Like giving myself over to a darkness inside that I didn’t know was there, as the euphoria of telling Jace exactly what I think of him washes over me.

He doesn’t look shocked or even seem to care about my assessment of him, just brings his grip back to my throat and drags me towards him. “All that poison on your tongue, and you still haven’t listed my worst traits. Careful, Red, once you catch the attention of a Rebel, it’s deadly.”

“Jace!” Her sharp one word shout cuts into the tension and he releases me, taking a step back.

“Queenie,” he greets Elle, without taking his eyes off mine, his gaze like needles against my skin.

I pull my eyes from his to find Elle flanked by the same blonde guy she was with the last time she came for Jace, and another dark haired guy who is watching me intensely, like he is trying to work me out.

Before I can look back at him, Jace storms away. “Let’s go,” he snaps as he pushes past them all and climbs into the car.

Elle keeps her eyes on me, before she dismisses me with one look and turns back towards the Black SUV they arrived in.

“Tell him if he’s in that state on Sunday, not to come to the BBQ!” I shout across the lawn before I can help myself, and she pauses, her spine snapping straight.

She turns slowly. “I’ll leave it up to him whether he comes or not, he’s her brother,” Elle replies calmly, but I can feel the tension in her body from here.

I fume under her stare. “He's not worthy of being her brother,” I grit out in defense, the drinks I had earlier clearly getting to me.

She looks at me like she wants to murder me, before she turns to the dark haired one beside her. “Get her out of here, River.”

She moves to leave again and I step forward. “Why do you keep saving him when he doesn't deserve it?” It’s a question that has been plaguing me since the night I met Jace. The way Jack made that phone call, the way Elle arrived, they way her and the blonde guy led him out. Clearly it’s something they are used to.

“Because he does deserve it,” she replies without hesitation.

I shake my head in disbelief at her. “How can you think that when he keeps coming back for more?” I’ve seen many people who struggle with different things thanks to both my parents' career choices, and it’s clear as day that Jace is like them, except he isn’t looking for someone to help him, just more distraction and destruction.

“You don’t know anything about him.” Elle’s voice is quieter this time, but the threatening tone is still there.

I snort a laugh, thinking about everything I’ve seen and heard in the last week. “I know enough.”

Now it’s Elle’s turn to laugh. “You think because you've heard about his reputation and seen him at a few parties that you can judge him?” She steps towards me. “How dare you, what would people say about you if they knew only the worst parts of you?” It’s a question, but she doesn’t want an answer, she just glares at me with something like disappointment behind her eyes.

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